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David Gandy On Safari

Very much felt like Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone 2 last week as I wandered the streets of New York, visiting the huge Christmas tree at the Rockefella Centre between meetings with the wonderful team at Lucky Brands. I hate to say this, but NYC has topped London so far this year for 'that' Christmassy feeling. The Christmas decorations, light displays and shop windows were just spectacular, it really was in a different league to the commercial fake German Christmas markets, fairground rides and Marmite-sponsored lights of London. I will have to dust off my copy of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation DVD, then I'll really know it's Chistmas!

Talking of Christmas, look what United Colors of Benetton have so kindly sent me to keep a few of the smaller, more vulnerable dogs warm this winter at Battersea. I think we've set a trend with our dog walk at the Coats and Collar Ball. A big thank you to Benetton.

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Before NYC, I was of course in Botswana, where I met Mum and Dad Gandy at the Kwara Lodge on the Okavango Delta for what can only be described as a very special holiday. Botswana is very different to safari-ing in any other part of Africa. Not since trekking for gorillas in Uganda have I felt so insignificant and small when up close with the wonderful animals we saw.

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Of course it wouldn't be a good old Gandy family holiday if it wasn't for the usual crazy experiences. Firstly a hippo hit and nearly up-ended our boat as we were travelling back from fishing. Then, later that day on a night drive, our 4x4 got a flat tyre and as we all helped to change it, we suddenly realised from the almighty roar that we were a lot closer to the lions than we had anticipated. Believe me, after that we could have given a F1 pit team a run for it's money on how quickly we changed the wheel! We were literally 400 ft from two male lion brothers who were coming to challenge another pack for territory. The roaring went on all night around the lodge during dinner.

I truly got away from everything when I was there. No mobile phone signal, no internet/TV/papers, and as I headed back to our lodge at night and watched two hippos walk within feet of our luxury tents, and was then woken up by elephants who were banging on our little terrace with their trunks at two am, I realised how privileged I was to be there.

It was our guide and tracker, Tom, and the people who run Kwara that made it so truly special. I realised that without all the rules of westernised society, just how happy and appreciative people can be with so very little. This is why I go to Africa a lot for my holidays - it seems to put many things into perspective.

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I was really looking forward to getting back to London for one major reason. I'm very excited to announce that I am the new Johnnie Walker Blue Label ambassador and Christmas has come early as this week - I received a very special personalised, engraved bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label from the wonderful team there to celebrate, which will now take pride of place in my house over the holidays! The engraved bottle is stunning and a lovely personalised gift for anyone who would like something extra special or knows someone in need of being spoilt! Take a look here if you've got someone in mind - I doubt they will be disappointed!

For some reason blue seems to be very poignant through out my career. Light Blue. Blue Label. A blue announcement in January and who knows, maybe a men's clothing line called 'Blue' next? Ha ha, we'll see. Not only am I excited to be working with what I have previously called the Aston Martin of the whiskey world and a truly British brand, but I also get to go and meet the Master blender in Scotland next week and taste the Johnny Walker whiskey library at their castle. Now I really have a feeling that it's going to be a VERY merry Christmas!